Improvement in cleaning carpets



UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD B. OOULTER AND JEFFERSON PRATT, OF PITTSBURG, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLEANING CARPETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,898. dated July 14, 1874; application filed June 17, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD B. COUL- TER and JEFFERSON PRATT, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Compound and Process for tenovating Carpets; and we do hereby de clare the following to be a full, clear, and em act description thereof.

Our invention relates to compounds and processes used in cleaning and renovating carpets, car-cushions, and upholstered goods generally; and it consists in a compound containing soap, washing-crystals, borax, alum, caustic potash, bluing, sal-soda, and resin, as

the principal ingredients, to which others may be added, if desired; and in a method of applying the said compound, together with a solution of water, alcohol, and ammonia, which is also used in carrying out our invention, and forms a second step in our improved process.

Ye will now proceed more specifically to describe our compound, so that others skilled in the art may make and use the same.

In forming the compound, which, for convenience of description, we will term No. 1, we take Colgates sterling soap, one and a half pound lickstones patent cleansingcrystal, one cake, (which will weigh about two and a halt ounces;) sal-.soda, one-half pound; fluid bluing, three table-spoonfuls and resin, onequarter of a pound. These ingredients, thoroughly mixed together, form a gelatinous mass, which we term Oompound No. 1.

e also form a solution from one pint ammonia and three tablespoonfuls of alcohol, which may be termed No. 2 for the purposes of this description.

The method by which we cleanse the carpets, &c., is as follows: A portion of the gelatinous compound (No. 1) may be taken upon an ordinary scrubbing-brush, or similar device, and spread evenly over and rubbed thoroughly into the carpet whichis to be cleansed, after which two table-spoonfuls of solution No. 2 are mixed or added to a quart of water, and the solution thus formed sprinkled over the carpet, upon which compound No. 1 has been previously rubbed.

The sprinkling may be done by the ordinary sprinkler, or in other suitable manner, after which 'water is applied to the carpet by means of a sponge to the extent which the carpet will absorb, and the whole surface of the carpet thoroughly rubbed and scraped by means of suitable rubbing and scraping devices.

The carpet thus treated may be wrung out by means of a wringing-paddle, or in other suitable manner, to remove the water, after which the saturation of the carpet with water by means of the sponge. or in other suitable manner, and the wringing, are repeated a number of times until the carpet is thoroughly cleaned, the carpet being finally' finished by rubbing dry with cloths.

The first compound (No. 1) loosens the dirt and forms a soap with any greasy compound that may be in the carpet, at the same time renewing and freshening the colors, while the water containing the alcohol and ammonia will serve to fix and set the colors, which might otherwise have been injured by the excess of alkali in the compound first used.

The process adopted by us enables us to cleanse upholstered furniture, car-cushions, and similar articles without removing the fabric from the chair, car-seat, or other attach ment, and the several steps used can be equally well used with carpets on the floor as well as when removed therefrom.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. A compound composed of soap, washingcrystals, sal-soda, borax, alum, bluing, resin,

and with or without caustic potash, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The method of cleansing carpet and sim' ilar fabrics, consisting in the application of the saponaceous compound, the ammoniacal solution, and the alternate wringing and rinsing in the manner specified. I

In testimony whereof we, the said RICHARD B. GoULTER and J EFFERSON PRATT, have hereunto set our hands.

RICHARD B. OOULTER.

JEFFERSON PRATT.

Vitnesses:

T. B. KERR, FREDERICK STAnmsH. 

